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It’s been a weird, perhaps wild, winter with mood swings from bitterly cold to a mid-January thaw and back again.

Take it from the son of a weatherman, you can learn all about Wild Weather at an exhibition by that name in Kitchener.

Or, get a taste of spring with orchids at the Royal Botanical Gardens and come in from the cold to wine and dine at Winterlicious in Toronto.

Billed as a “highly interactive and entertaining blockbuster travelling exhibition,” Wild Weather illustrates severe weather as a “powerful and unpredictable force,” said Sean Jasmins of the Waterloo Region Museum.

It will be featured from Friday to April 29 and “immerse visitors of all ages in the science of severe weather.”

The exhibition delves into current severe weather science, explores cutting-edge technology and investigates the stories of scientists, forecasters and passionate enthusiasts.

“Visitors will leave the exhibition feeling they have been saturated in severe weather elements,” said Adele Hempel, museum manager/curator.

Get blown away

Fly through the eye of a hurricane, create a mini-tornado and dance up a storm as the weather around you responds to your movements and blows you away in a staged hurricane photo op.

There are eight exhibit zones leading visitors through a series of Wild Weather experiences to gain a better understanding of the science behind the phenomena, its connection to climate change and emerging technologies and forecasting techniques.

From thunderstorms to summer heat waves, hurricanes to blizzards, it explains the science behind the weather and how exciting new discoveries are unravelling many mysteries.

Experience weather in its many powerful and unpredictable forms in the exhibition from Science North and the Ontario Science Centre.

There will also be a lecture and roundtable March 22 7-9 p.m. on Our Changing Climate.

Participants are Profs. Christine Dow, Chris Fletcher and Johanna Wandel, all of the University of Waterloo; and David Roewade, sustainability specialist for Waterloo Region.

The museum is at 10 Huron Road in Kitchener, with hours Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission is $11; $8, seniors and students; $5, ages five to 12; free, children four and younger; $25, family. waterlooregionmuseum.ca; (519) 748-1914

Fox trots

• Leave the cold behind at the Orchid Society Annual Show and Sale, Feb. 24 and 25, at the Royal Botanical Gardens Centre (680 Plains Rd. W.) in Burlington.

This judged event showcases the beauty and diversity of orchids and features displays by societies and growers from across Canada and the U.S.

There are also exhibits of flower arrangements, paintings, photographs and plant sales.